Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented Dec. 3|, |901.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

T. A. BRYAN.

ACETYLENE GAS -GENERATOR- rApplietiun med Feb. 11, 1961.)

(No Model.)

VNo. 690,356. Pa'tented nec. 3|, |901] T. A. BRYAN. ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Feb. 11, 1901.)

ZSheetS-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Mera a? rees 1lll/NT rlHOMAS A. BRYAN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,356, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed February 1l, 1901. Serial No. 46,852. (No model.)

To ttZZ whom, t may concern.-

- Be it known that I, THOMAS A. BRYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which the following is a specification.

A general object had in view is to provide a generator designed particularly for furnishing gas for illuminating railway-trains and to so construct said generator that for a given capacity it will occupy less space than machines of a like character as now commonly constructed for ordinary use.

Other objects of the invention-relate to an,

improved construction and arrangement of parts actuated automatically by variations in the pressure of gas in the generating-chamber for controlling the feed of the carbid to said chamber, so that the supply of gas will be in substantially exact proportion to its conunderstood, I have illustrated the same in tion.

the accompanying drawings, in which'- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a gas-generating apparatus constructed according to my invention. sectional View through the throat of the hopper of the generator.` Fig. 3 is a detail View illustrating the means for locking the slushralve against turning. Fig. 4 is a sectional view ot the three-way valve, showing its position when the gas is passing through the same to the service-pipe; and Fig. 5 is a similarvicw showing the positionl of the Valve when the same has been turned to permit the gas to pass to the escape-pipe.

The numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical vessel affording a combined generator and gasholder. This vessel will hereinafter be re- Fig. 2 is a transverse chamber. Secured to the under side of the top 2 of the generator is a cylindrical casing 3, which is about halt` the length of the veswardly flared, as indicated at 4. The casing 3 is concentric with the wall of the chamber 1, but located at a suitable distance therecasing 1, around the lower end or flared portion 4 ot' said casing 3. Secured around the wall of the chamber 1 at a slight dist-ance below the lower or liared end of the casing 3 is and upwardly to extend beyond the outer edge of the vflared portion 4, the purpose of this collar being to deflect the gas as it rises vent its passing into the chamber 5.

Secured on the top of the generator 1 is a carbid-receptacle 7, preferably-having an inclined bottom 8, as shown, for the better feed of the carbid, and having a throat or reduced portion 9 extending through the top 2 and into the interior of the casing 3. Extending from thethroat 9 through the wall of the casing 3 'and the generator 1 is a pipe 10, having on its outer end a removable cap 11, said pipe being inclined downwardly and the purpose thereof being to provide means for removing carbid from the carbid-receptacle '7 if for any reason the machine should become inoperative or for reasons of safety it be de- The throat 9 is preferably rectangular in cross-section, and at its lower end, Within the casing 3, is closed, in a manner hereinafter described, by means of a door 12, which is as indicated at 13. Secured on opposite sides of the throat/9 are hangers 14, which project a considerable distance below the bottom of the throat 9 and have vjourn alcd in their lower ends a shaft 15.

The numeral 16 indicates a movable carbidsupport, which is soldered or otherwise secured at its bottom to the shaft 15, between the hangers 14 and to one side of the longitudinal center of said support or toward the rear thereof. The support 16 comprises a bottom 17, rising upward, from opposite sides sired to render the same incapable of operaferred to as the generator or generatingsel 1 and has its lower end opened and outfrom, so as to provide an annular chamber 5, Y y which communicates with the interior of the a collar or liange 6, which is inclined inwardly upward into the chamber or casing 3 and prel 'pivoted or hinged to one side of the throat 9, l

lOO

. of the generator.

vwall of said casing, as shown.

of which are sides 18, the outer edges of which are curved from what will be termed the rear end of the support to the front end and from points above the bottom at the rear end to points coincident with the bottom at the front end. The sides 18 extend above the lower end of the throat 9 and embrace opposite sides thereof, as shown, and work freely between the sides of the throat and the hangers 14.

The numeral 19 indicates a curved lmetal iiap or apron the curvature of which is similar to that of the curvature of the sides 18 of the support 16, said apron being pivotally secured, as indicated at 20, to one side of the throat 9, immediately above the sides of the carbid-support and in such manner that said apron will normally rest upon the curved edges ofthe support and operate as a closure for the same. The lower edge portion of the apron 19 is cut away to form a preferably rectangular opening 2l, the purpose of which is to permit the feed of the carbid, as will be presentlydescribed. Secured on the bottom 17, at the rear end thereof, is a projection 22., the purpose of which is to enga-ge the door 12 when the carbid-support is turned to the proper position in the operation of the device to move the door12 up against the bottom ofthe throat 9, and thereby stop the feed of carbid. The shaft 15 projects to one side of the support 16 a considerable distance, and toward its outer end has adjustably secured thereon,- by means of a sleeve 23 and set-screw 24, a leverarm 25. Pivotally connected to the outer end of this lever-arm is arod 26.

The numeral 27 indicates a pipe which while not communicating with extends through the carbid-holder from top to jbottom thereof and communicates at its lower end with the interior of the casing 3, said lower end being hermetically secured to the top 2 y Secured in a similar manner to the upper end of the pipe 27 is a diaphragm-chamber 28, within which is located a flexible diaphragm 29. The rod 26 extends upward through the pipe 27, and at its upper end is secured centrally to the diaphragm 29, as shown.

The numeral 30 indicates a shaftwhich extends entirely across the casing 3 and at opposite ends is journaled in bearings 31 on the The shaft 30 lies immediately below the support 16 and is provided with a finger 32, which when the shaft 30 is turned, as hereinafter described, is designed to engage the under side of the support 16 and raise or turn the same or to be turned from engagement therewith and permit said support to fall, as will. better appear later on. Secured to the shaft 30 is a lever-arm 33, to the outer end of which. is

pi'votally secured the lower end of a rod 34, which projects upward throughv andrworks in a stuffing-box 35 on the top 2 of the generator.

The numeral 36 indicates the service-pipe,

which is connected to and communicates with the pipe 27, as shown. Located in the service-pipe 36 is a three-way valve 37, connected to which is an escape-pipe 38. A regulator 381 is also located in said service-pipe to insure the flow of gas at a uniform pressure to the burners. A pipe 39 communicates at one end with the interior of the annular chamber 5, and at its opposite end is connected with the escape-pipe 38. A pipe 40 communicates at one end with the diaphragm-chamber 28, and atits opposite end is connected with the escape-pipe 38. Secured on the stem 41 of the three-way valve 37 is a lever 42, one end of which is forked to embrace the rod 34 and worksv between stops 43 on the upper end of said rod. The oppositeendof the lever y42 is pivotally connected to the upper end'ofV a connecting-rod 44.

The numeral 45 indicates au operating-arm, which at its lower vend is secured tothe stem 41 of the three-way valve 37 and at.k its vupper end is provided with a projecting portion 46. The opening into the carbid-holder is closed by means of a screw-cap 47, and whenvthe parts are in their normal position the lprojection 46 on .the operating-arm 45 will extend over and engage the cap 47 and prevent it from being unscrewed until the arm 45 is turned to carry the projection 46 from over said screw-cap. In this latter position, which is the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the finger 32 is lifted by the rod 34and shaft 30 and holds the carbid-support raised or in the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this position the bottom of the support will occupysubstantiallyahorizontal position,and the forward or discharge end of the support .will be raised a considerable distance above the rectangular opening 21 in the apron 19. In this position the cap 47 may be removed and the carbid-holder 7 filled with carbid. In bringing the parts to this position the threeway valve will be turned to open communication from the pipe 27 th roughk the service-pipe 36 into the escape-pipe 38, so that any, gas in the generator will pass out before thecap 47 is removed, thus avoiding any escape of gas into the car where the generator may be located and consequent liability tov accident. At the same time that portion Yof the servicepipe 36 beyond the three-way valve will be shut off. Thecarbid -holder having been filled with carbid and it being desired to start theapparatus in operation, the operating-arm 45 is turned to carry. the projection 46 over the screw-cap 47 and through the medium of the lever 42 to push down the rod 34; This action, through the medium ofthe lever-arm 33, will turn the rod 30 vto carry the finger 32 away from contact with the carbid-support, which support being pivotally mounted Atoward its rear endwill fall forward, and as its front edge passes below the upper edge of the opening 21 thecarbid, which will, have fallen upon the bottom of the support 16-from the throat 9, will begin to discharge through the discharge position to permit a fresh supply ofy opening 21 into the water of vthe generatingchamber. This position of the parts is shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2. As the forward end of the carbid-support continues to fall the projection 22 at the rear end of the support will be elevated and ultimately engage the under side of the door 12 and gradually raise the same until finally it entirely closes the opening from the throat 9, thusinsuring that only a limited supply of carbid will be supplied to the generator at each discharge movement of the support 16. As the carbid used is what is known as granulated carbid and the granules being of uniform size the Vamount of carbid supplied to the generator at each movementof the support 16 can be regulated with practically absolute certainty. ln the falling or discharging movement of the carbid-support, as just described, the shaft 15, being secured to the bottom of said support, will be turned, and through the medium of the leverarm 25 and the rod 26 the diaphragm 29 will be pulled downward to the bottom of the diaphragm-chamber. From now on the action of the machine is automatic-'that is to say, the carbid discharged into the water of the generator in the operation just described will generate gas, and this gas passing up through the pipe 27 will raise the diaphragm 29, and this movement of the diaphragm lthrough the medium of the rod 26 and lever-arm 25 will turn the shaft 15 in the reverse direction to that just described, so that the support 16 will be again raised. As the forward end of the support is raised the projection 22 will be gradually lowered from engagement with the door 12, which will fall by gravity and permit a fresh supply of carbid to drop upon the bottom of the support 16; but as the forward edge of the bottom will by this time have passed above the opening 2l this carbid cannot fall into the generator, as the apron 19 will operate to close the support. In the movement of the operating-arm 45, above described, to place the device in operation the three-way valve 37 will have been turned to close communication with the escape-pipe' 38 and to open communication throughout the length of the service-pipe 36.` `As gas .is consumed the diaphragm 29 will fall by gravity and operate through the rod 26, lever-arm 25, and shaft 15 to turn the support 16 again to the carbid to fall into the generator.v It may chance in operation that the diaphragm will be raised to turn the supportfupward before all the carbid on the bottom thereof has fallen into the generator. Should this occur, and in actual operation it probably wouldv frequently occur, the door 12, resting upon the bottom of the support 1,6, will prevent the carbid from falling out of the rear end of the support, while as soon as the forward edge of the support passes above tho rectangular opening 21 no further carbid can fall into the generator. ln actual operation it is found that the up-and-down movements of the dia-l phragm are practically continuous, in this regard resembling the action of the lungs in breathing. By the construction and arrangement described the machine will quickly respond to any decrease in pressure of the gas, and as the generation of gas is practically simultaneous with the discharge of the carbid the resultant effect is to maintain a workable pressure of gas in the generator. The regulator 38a will prevent all flickering of the flame when the gas is used for illuminating puroses.

Should the pressure in the generator at any time exceed a given degree, beyond which there-might be danger of bursting the vessel l, the water, the level of which in the generator is indicated by the line w w, will be forced downward to the bottom of the casing 3 and up in the chamber 5, and the gas will bubble under the edge of the flared portion 4 and up through the water in the chamber 5 andescape through thepipe 39 and pipe 38 to the outer air. When the gas-pressure in the generator has thus been sufficiently reduced, the water will automatically resume its proper level.

The numeral 48 indicates a funnel which communicates through a valve 49 with a pipe 50, communicating with the interior of the annular chamber 5 and having its end hermetically secured to the casing of the generator, as shown. This pipe 50 is located at a suitable point intermediate the top and bottom of the generator or in about the position shown in the drawings. Secured intermediate its ends on the stem of the valve 49 is a lever 51, one end ofwhich is pivotally connected with the lower end of the connecting-rod 44, and the other end thereof is pivotally c onnected to the upper end of a relatively long rod 52. The rod 52 passes through one or more guides 53 on the side of the generator and has its lower end forked, as indicated at 54, to provide a rect-angular recess 55.

The numeral 56 indicates the slush-valve, said slush-valve being normally'closed by means of a disk 57T, located at its inner end and having secured thereto a rod 58, which passes through the forward curved end of the valve. The outer end of the rod 58 is screwthreaded, and this screw-threaded portion passes through a screw-threaded boss 59 on the outside of the valve 56. The rod 58 is provided with a handle 60 for turning the same. Adjacentto the handle 60 the rod 58 is provided with a squared or other non-circular port-ion 6l. By turning the handle 60 and rod 58 to theleft or in the unscrewing direction IIO tlie disk 57 will be broughtfirmly against the inner end of the valve 56 and close the same',

so that the water in the generator cannot es-V cape'through said valve. By turning the rod 58 in the opposite direction the engagement of its screw-threads in the boss 59will operate to carry the disk 57 away from the end of the valve 56 andallowtheslush and refuse matter and water in the bottom of the genere ator to be discharged through the valve.

the position of the operating-arm 45 shown have been turned to open communication be` 1 tween the funnel 48 and pipe 50. When the operating-arm 45 is turned to piace the ma-4 chine in operation, as shown `in full lines in Fig. 1 the rod 52 will be lowered and its forked portion passed over the rod 58. In

' this position the squared or non-circular portion 61v of the rod 58 will lie in the recess 55, and the rod 58 will be prevented from turn-v ing. Thus it will be impossible to open the slush-valve so long as the machine is in opi eration.

The generator is supplied with Water through the funnel 48, and water is poured into the generator until it overiiows the edge of said funnel, which will indicate that the water has reached a height in the generator correspondingto the upper edge of said funnel. As soon asgas is generated, however, the pressure thereof on the water in the casing 3 will operate to .force the water upward in the chamber 5 and lower the level of the water in the casing 3. The chamber 5 is slightly larger than is necessary to hold all the water in said casing When the operating-'arm 45 is turned to place the machine in` operation, the movementof the lever 51 will turn the valve 49 and close communication between the funnel 48 and pipe 50. The arrangement described for discharging carbid into the generator i`s such that there isno danger or possibility of carbid being-shaken out of the support 16 due to the jarring of thetrain, as it will be seen that carbid can only fall out of the support when the lower edge thereof is'within the area of the opening 2l. When in this position, the projection on the rearv end ofl the support 16 holds the door elevated, `so that no fresh amount of carbidv can fall, and in the elevated position of the support its bottom occupies a. horizontal position, and even should the apron 19 be momentarily lifted or shaken slightly away from the support there would be no liability of the carbid falling off of the bottom of the support. A l 'Y In order to prevent thel carbid fromclogging in the throat 9, I `pivotally mount on the plate 12 a relatively long pointed arm 63, which extends upward into the carbid-receptacle, and as the support 16 is raised and lowered operates to agitate the carbid in the throat and lower part of the receptacle suiiciently to insure the free dow of the same.

Having thusfully described myinvention,l

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Inan acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber,a` carbidreceptacle communicating with the interior thereof, a support pivotall y mounted beneath .said receptacle and adapted to support and contain the carbid fallingtherefrom, said support having a discharge-opening, means for rocking said support, and an apron pivotally mounted on said receptacle and normally closing said opening.

2. In an acetylene-generator, in combina- :tion with the generator-chamber, a carbid- -receptacle communicating with the interior thereof, a support pivotally mounted beneath -said receptacle and having one side open and.

provided with curved edges, means for rocking said support, and a curved apron pivotvally mounted adjacent to said support and normally resting against the curved edges I thereof to close its open side.

3. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and communicating with the interior thereof, a pivoted support for supporting'the carbid in said carbid-receptacle, a movable diaphragm operatively connected withsaid support and exposed to the pressure of the gas inthe generator, and a Aclosing device for said receptacle pivotally mounted thereon, said closing device being .actuated by the support in the downward movement of the diaphragm beyond a given point to close the carbid-receptacle.

4. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat extending through the casing thereof, a snpport'pivotally mounted beneath said throat and adapted to receive carbid falling .through the same, means for turning said support upon its pivot, and a pivoted closing device for said throat mounted thereon and coacting with said support.

5. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and havingl a throat extending throughthe casing thereof, a support pivotallyl mounted beneath said throat andv adapted to` receive thecarbid falling through the same, means actuated by variations inthe pressure of the gas generated toraise and lower said support, and a pivoted closing device for said throat mounted thereon and coacting with said support. 6. In an acetylene-generator, in combinationwith the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat .passing through the casing thereof, a support pivotally .mounted beneath said throat and'adapte'd to receive the carbid falling-through the same, a shaft for turning said support,a flexible diaphragm operatively connected with said shaft and exposed to the pressure of vthe gas generated, and a closing device for said throat separate from and coacting with said support.

7. In an acetylene-generator, in combina- IOO IIO

Y Y I l tion with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a door pivotally mounted on said throat for coveririg and uncovering the opening thereof, a support pivotally mounted beneath said throat and normally supporting said door, a projection at one end of said support, and means actuated by variations in the pressure of the gas generated to raise and lower said support to permit the carbid to fall into the generator or to prevent such fall of the carbid, said door being raised to a closed position by said projection when 'the support is lowered to its discharge position.

S. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a doorl pivotal] y mounted on said throat for covering and uncovering the opening thereof, a pivoted support located beneath and normally supporting said door, means for turning said support to permit the fall therefrom of the carbid falling thereon through the throat or to prevent such fall, and a projection on one end of said supportadapted to engage said door and raise it to cover the opening of the throat when the support is turned to a discharge position.

9. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a door pivotally mounted on said throat for closing the opening thereof, a support pivotally mounted beneath said throat and normally supporting said door, means for turning said support, and a pivoted apron covering the outlet from said support, except when the latter is in its lowermost or discharge position.

l0. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a door pivotally mounted on said throat, a support supporting said door, a shaft fast on said support and mounted in bearings on vsaid throat, a lever-arm on said shaft, a flexible diaphragm exposed to the pressure of the gas in the generator, and a rod connecting said Vlever-arm and said diaphragm, the combinaof the gas generated; and a rod connecting said lever-arm and said diaphragm, the coinbination operating as set forth.

12. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a door pivotally mounted on the lower end of said throat, a shaft supported in bearings on said throat, a support fast. on said shaft cornprising a bottom and upright sides, said sides having curved edges, a projection on said support` located beneath said door, a pivoted apron normally resting u pon said curved edges and having in its lower end a recess, and means as described for act nat-ingsaid support.

13. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber,a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, means actuated by variations inthe pressure of the gas generated for controlling the feed ofthe carbid from said throat and comprising a pivoted support supported beneath said throat, a shaft mounted in said generator and having a nger adapted to engage the bottom of said support, a lever-arm on said shaft, a rod pivotally connected with said lever-arm and passing through the casing of the generator, and an operating-arm operativelT connected with said rod, whereby, through the mechanism described, said finger may be turned to permit the supportto fall to a discharge position, or may be turned to raise said support to an inoperative position.

14. 'In an acetylene-generator, incombination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptaclemounted thereon havingaiillingorifice and having a throat passing through the casing of the generator, a closing device for said throat comprising a pivoted support located thereunder, a shaft mounted in said generator and having a finger for engaging said support, a lever-arm on said shaft, a rod pivotally connected with said lever-arm and passing through the casing, a service-pipe communicating with the generator, an escape-pipe communicating with said servicepipe, a three-way valve located at the latter point of communication, a lever on the stem of said valve and connected at one end to said rod, and an operating-arm also mounted on said stem and having aprojection adapted to extend over the filling-orifice of the carbid-receptacle.

l5. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber having a carbid-receptacle mounted thereon, a closing device for said receptacle comprising a pivoted support, a shaft journaled in said generator and having a finger thereon adapted to engage the under side of said support, a rod operatively connected with said shaft for turning the same, a service-pipe communicating with said genera-tor, a'safety-pipe communicating with said service-pipe, a threeway valve at the point of connection of these two pipes, a lever secured intermediate its IIO IIS

ends to the stem of said valve and connected at one of its ends to said rod, an operatingarm secured on the stem of said valve, a filling-pipe for said generator having a funnel, a valve in said pipe, a lever 5l on the stem of said valve, a rod connecting the outer ends of the two levers named, a slush-valve and means for opening and closing the same, and a rod pivotally connected to the other end of thelever 5l and having at its lower end means for looking the slush-valve against opening, the combination operating as set forth.

16. In an acetylene-generator, in combination with the generating-chamber, a carbidreceptacle mounted thereon and having a throat passing through the casing thereof, a

IIQSSGS.

THOMAS A. BRYAN. Witnesses:

HENRIETTA WHITEHILL, ROBERT JABEZ KIRKWooD. 

